John William Baier's
_Compendium of Positive Theology_
Edited by C. F. W. Walther
Published by:
St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1877
[Translator's Preface. These are the major loci or topics of
John William Baier's _Compendium of Positive Theology_ as ed-
ited by Dr. C. F. W. Walther. These should be seen as the
broad outline of Baier-Walther's dogmatics, but please don't
assume that this is all. Each locus usually includes copious
explanatory notes and citations from patristics and other
Lutheran dogmaticians.]
Chapter Six
On renewal and good works.
1. The word of renewal sometimes is widely accepted, that also
conversion or regeneration, and even justification is embraced with
the following work of sanctification; in this place however
strictly, that from it is distinguished from conversion and also
follows justification. Otherwise it is called sanctification.
2. Renewal strictly speaking introduces a certain real and inward
change in a human by rebirth or conversion; which is accepted
sometimes transitively, and sometimes intransitively.
3. Both of its goals, from which and to which, are known.
4. The goal from which are the remnants of sin, which remain after
conversion; truly someone lacking the good strength, on the part of
the intellect indeed to a spiritual knowing, on the part of the
will to the following of spiritual good, on the part of the
sensitive appetite to a yielding by higher faculties; at the same
time also there is an inclination of the faculties of the spirit to
depraved things.
5. The goal to which of renewal are those greater spiritual powers,
which after conversion are at last acquired; clearly on the part of
the intellect a fuller knowledge of spiritual things, on the part
of the will a more perfect sanctity, and on the part of the
sensitive appetite more promptly and constantly an outstanding
submission to the superior faculties.
6. However the goal from which of renewal partly is done away with,
when a human, by a beginning of loving and by an accurate testing
of his life he observes more carefully the sins lost or left behind
after conversion and he refused to do them through a serious
dissatisfaction and sorrow of them, partly when in the exercise of
spiritual acts however large he is occupied according to the
various kinds of Christian virtues. And to this pertains the
mourning spirit of the reborn against the flesh.
7. And thus at the same time it is tending toward the acquiring of
the end to which of renewal, when through more frequent spiritual
acts the spiritual forces of intellect and will before imparting
are increased and they take growth, so that they extend to a more
full habitual perfection.
8. The principal efficient cause of rebirth is the triune God.
9. The instrumental cause on the part of God are the word of law
and gospel, and the sacraments of baptism and the eucharist.
10. On the part of humans, powers of grace received in conversion
efficiently agree at the same time for renewal.
11. The subject which of renovation is the human converted and
justified.
12. The subject by which is the spirit as far as its faculties, the
intellect, will and sensitive appetite; secondly also the members
of the body.
13. And thus the form or the formal reason of renewal consists in a
complex of many spiritual acts, through which the human more and
more tends toward taming perverse desire and toward acquiring an
increase of a habitual gift, by which it is restored more fittingly
to the outstanding things, which conform to the divine will.
14. The nearer goal of renovation coincides with its end to which.
The ultimate goal on the part of humans is eternal life, on the
part of God it is his glory.
15. The adjuncts of renovation are I. Necessity. II. Difficulty.
III. Imperfection. IV. Utility.
16. It is possible to define renovation, that it is a complex of
spiritual acts, which the reborn human, by God through the word and
sacraments graciously concurring to the spiritual forces gathered
to them, as far as he exercises the intellect, will and sensitive
appetite to the abolishing of the remnants of sin and a greater
acquiring of sanctity in the life of salvation, and to the glory of
God.
17. To the doctrine about renewal pertains the doctrine about good
works, which partly they have for themselves as a goal and an
effect toward renovation, partly they see for the rational form of
it.
18. However the free actions of a reborn human are understood in
this place through good works, which by the powers of grace
accepted in conversion and by an increase according to the standard
of the divine word he exercises to the glory of God.
19. The works of the non-reborn, which are done according to the
prescription of the moral law, are not equally possible to be said
good, as the works of the reborn; and it is not permitted in itself
and simply to call them good, however in so far as they are lacking
the requirements of good works, rightly they are called sins.
20. The efficient cause of good works is the same, as that of
renewal.
21. The form or the formal reason of good works, when they are seen
in itself, is conformity with the law of God; when however they are
seen, in so far as, although not exactly in agreement with the law,
however they are pleasing to God, if the form of them is faith in
Christ.
22. The affections of good works are: 1. that they are done
spontaneously; 2. that they are imperfect; 3. that they are
necessary to those being saved.
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This text was translated by Rev. Theodore Mayes and is copyrighted
material, (c)1996, but is free for non-commercial use or distribu-
tion, and especially for use on Project Wittenberg. Please direct
any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther
Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.
E-mail: smithre@mail.ctsfw.edu
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Phone: (260) 452-2123 Fax: (260) 452-2126
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file: /pub/resources/text/wittenberg/baier: cpt-3-06.txt
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